Truss



IOV

UNITED ,STATES PATENT Brien.,

DAVID L. SNEDIKER, OF HARTFORD, KANSAS.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,809, dated December 2, 1884.

Application filed July 31, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, DAvrD'L. SNEDIKER, of Hartford, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Trusses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

which illustrate my improvements, and in which- Figure 1 is a view of my truss as it appears when applied to the body of the wearer. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 8 of Fig. 1, showing the attened end of the body-spring incased in its sheath, as also indicated by the lines in Fig. l.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, light, convenient, and efficient truss which can be cheaply manufactured and will be comfortable to the wearer. In order to accomplish this object I employ a metallic spring, A, to encircle the body, flattened at the ends, as illustrated, and adapted to be bent readily to conform to the shape or form of each individual wearer. The spring is bent down-ward where it comes opposite the front part of the body, then upward at the sides to accommodate the hips, and again downward at the back, so as to bear upon those portions of the sides and back of a person which are best adapted to support it, as is usual. This is the normal shape of the body-spring, but it can be bent slightly and set at different points to fit it to particular individualsLand always should be nicely and carefully fitted and adjusted to the person in every instance, because of the slight individual variations of the contour of the body that exist almost universally. rIhe iiattened ends of the spring may be covered with soft-leather sheaths B, or these may be dispensed with; but they will ordinarily add something to the comfort of the wearer, and can readily be changed and washed. The flattened ends of the body-spring are not united, but are separated, so that they can be spread apart and the truss slipped upon the body, when they will contract by the resiliency of the metal to t the body and hold the truss securely in place. Besides this, the flattened ends do not come 'over the spinal column, but are separated sufficiently to avoid pressure or friction there, which is a very serious objecpeXcept at the ends, as shown.

tion to all styles of trusses that are made to exf ends have holes C through them, and the sheaths, if they are used, may have also cor responding holes, as illustrated, into which tie-strings or lacings D may be placed, if dcsired; but this light open spring-truss can be worn effectively, where persons do not have to undergo too much bodily exertion, wit-hout strings.

It is found in practice that there is less chafing of the shin and a better fit to the body is attainable when the body-spring. is rounded,

With this construction of spring-support for trusses the bearing upon the body is so well distributed and properly placed and so yielding by the action of the springs, which are separated at the back, as to practically overcome all the usual discomfort attending the wearing of abdominal trusses.`

I provide pads E, of any suitable material, but preferably of polished wood or some other light substance not liable to absorb the perspiration of the body and become lthy. These padsare connected to the front portion ofthe body-spring, so as to have a yielding spring movement in all directions substantially like the movement of a universal ball-and-socket joint, with an additional rotary movement for adjustment and a reciprocating spring action. This is accomplished successfully by the construction of the fastenings `and springs I enr ploy and the manner of connecting the pads to them. The pads are of course hollow, and are set upon spiral springs F, of conical shape,

tend over or bear upon the backbone. These which are fastened by their smaller ends to a 4,

stud or standard, G, which in turn is connected, as will presently be described, to the bOdyspring. The larger ends of the spiral springs, corresponding in general outline to the base of a cone, constitute the seats of the pads, andthe larger portionsof the springs iit into the hollow recesses or sockets in the pads, so as to hold them securely to place. By this arrangement the pads are in one sense pivoted to the studs, and have a large range of movement with reference to the ends of the studs, to which the springs are attached.

Cap-plates H, fitting loosely, in order to afllow freedom o f movement to the pads around the studs G, may be employed to make a neater finish for the instrument, and they serve also to prevent the springs from coming out of the pads in case they should happen to get loose. It is desirable to have the studs, and with them the pads, adjustable upon the bodyspring7 not only longitudinally with reference to the front part of the spring, but also in a rotary direction with respect to it. I provide for these movements in a simple way by forming a head or circular iiange, I, upon the outer ends of the studs, and by employing small metallic clamps K and set-screws L. The clamps embrace the heads or anges of the studs, as illustrated, and by loosening` the set-screws the pads may be adj usted both longitudinally and in a rotary direction at pleasure upon the front part of the body-spring, and when properly placed the set-screws can be tightened to hold them there securely. Thus the pads, or either of them, may be Worn either .up and down or crosswise of the body. (See Fig. l.) I prefer to employ two pads always, even where there is hernia only upon one side of the abdominal cavity, because the object of my improved truss is to support the intestines against the action of gravity, and it is very much better, and really necessary to proper treatment, to support both sides alike, whether there be single or double rupture. As ruptures of the intestinal sack are usually, if not always, vertical, or in the direction of a perpendicular slit in the peritoneum, it is desirable to apply the pads just above the rupture, in order that the weight of the intestines,kafter they are in place, shall be supported and the sides of the wound in the peritoneum shall be drawn' together and in contact, which may readily be done by proper pressure applied over the wound and not upon or below it.

Ordinarily, when a proper resilient, light, controllable, and ttin g truss-such as mineis applied properly in the position described, the healing process promptly begins without any other remedy, and will be successfully accomplished in a short period, as wounds of this nature will ordinarily heal when the separated parts are brought together.

I am aware that the combination of a springpad and a spring body-.band is not broadly new. I therefore do not claim this as my invention; but

f What I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An improved body-spring,A, for a truss, bent to conform to the body, as described, and being of a single piece of spring metal flattened and separated at the ends and rounded in other parts,fand provided with string-holes, all substantially as set forthj 2. In combination with the body-spring A, flattened and separated at the ends and rounded in other parts, as described, the removable sheaths B, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

DAVID L. SNEDIKER.

Vitnesses:

MARoUs S. HOPKINS, C. l?. ELWELL. 

